59 Slave traders (1/2)

”Give me a glass of water and ale for my friend here”

Arrora and Arwen were now sitting inside the tavern 'Cob Web', the same tavern Don and Uncle Dior met Akihiro.

The bartender was pouring a drink for a customer and made no effort to acknowledge Arrora and Arwen's presence.

The tavern was as dull inside as it was on the outside. Wooden beams support the upper floor while the broken lights are attached to them. The walls are covered in a layer of dust, making it near impossible to see what the few paintings on the walls are about.

Arrora could see the tavern itself is almost completely abandoned. The few people inside were silent and they kept to themselves, but whoever they were, Arwen hoped they'd leave them alone, just like he and Arrora leaving them alone.

”Is this place always as dull as now?”

Arrora asked the waitress carrying the water and ale mug towards them. The waitress couldn't help but smile wryly and sigh

”No not until someone chose to Minister Bryan”

The waitress drew a line across her neck with her thumb when she said.

”But what's the connection to that and this”

Arrora looked across the dull tavern while the waitress sighed again

”You know when you kill a lion in a forest a group of hyenas would take its place its same as here when Minister Bryan died many criminals and bandits started to target us and then many merchants stopped coming here and then many people chose to leave this hell”

The waitress had not many customers to serve so she patiently answered Arrora's questions and Arrora decided to get as much information as she can from this waitress because she knew the tavern is the nerve center of gossip and information of a town.

”So who's in charge of the city now?”

Arwen asked the waitress while taking a sip from the mug

”I've heard someone from the capital but it's clear they don't care about us at least when Minister Bryan was alive we got customers”

Arrora had no idea the death of Bryan would open the gate to other criminals but she didn't care much about this slave-trading city and its people.

”Don't you have guards to fight the criminals and bandits?”

The waitress shook her head and let out a sad smile

”most criminals are the guards, even the thousand arms auction house closed their shop and left with their great master this city is on its last leg”

Arrora could see the waitress's eyes forming a tear but she quickly wiped it away and let out a smile to hide her sadness. Seeing the waitress Arrora took out a silver coin and placed it on the waitress's hand. When she saw the silver coin she was shocked because the way Arrora placed the coin in her hand was like giving it to her and the ale and water were only copper coins worth.

”Keep the change” Arrora said as she planned to get information about the slave traders and she knew nothing would keep the information flowing out of the waitress's head like a good tip.

”I'm looking to take some slaves with me. Do you know anything that can help me?”

To the waitress who served most of her life in slave city this kind of question was not new to her because most people indeed come here to buy slaves.

”Of course I know”

Arrora could see the silver coin tip is working well when she saw the ear to ear grin on the waitress's face.

”How many slaves are you looking to buy?”

The mere word 'buy' disgusted Arrora and Arwen but both of them didn't show their feelings on their faces as they took a sip from their mugs.

”The more the better”

Arrora cleared her throat and said as the waitress rubbed her chin for a moment

”Hmm the small slave shops are closed now but there are two or three large traders still open to the business, you should look there”

”Can we get elves or dwarves there?”

”Hahaha”

When Arwen asked the question the waitress laughed as she shook her head

”Those are hot merchandise you can't buy them simply in a shop, at least not here mostly you can buy beastmen, goblins, and humans in slave city”

”Alright give us the directions to those shops”

The waitress nodded and started to give Arrora and Arwen the directions as both of them etched them into their minds.

After getting all the information from the waitress Arrora and Arwen took a large sip from their mug and stood up to leave the tavern.

”You should leave the city soon”

Arrora said to the waitress before leaving the tavern without even looking back at her with Arwen.